Xianye

Chapter 506 Interior
Seventeen years have passed in the blink of an eye, and Zhuxi Village seems to have changed its appearance.

Some families built new houses, while others moved to the city. The neighbor's small fishpond was filled in, and a mulberry and jujube orchard was planted on top of it.

Only the large banyan tree at the village entrance still has its roots intertwined, its branches twisted and gnarled, and its dense shade remains.

As the gentle breeze rises, the branches overhead, like the bamboo grove not far away, rustle on the sofa, converging into a dense, heavenly melody, like the sound of rain or the tide.

Chen Heng walked towards the village entrance, and along the way, passersby greeted him from time to time.

When he reached the water's edge covered with reeds, he took the opportunity to bend down and untie the boat ropes, and in the clear water, he saw his own face clearly.

It was a rough, dark face, weathered and worn.

Seventeen years of hard work have left many gray hairs on my temples, and there are a few old scars on my forehead, winding and intertwining like small centipedes.

This is the standard appearance of a fishing family in a water town; it looks quite ordinary and commonplace.

Only those eyes were deep and serene, like the still waters of a deep lake, without waves or wind...

Chen Heng stared at his reflection in the water for a moment, when a Dalmatian pelican suddenly took flight, causing ripples to spread outwards. The reflection then blurred and was shattered among the waves.

Just as Chen Heng moved the boat into the water, ready to row,

Suddenly, a hurried sound rang out from the shore, and then, amidst the rustling of reeds being parted, a figure darted out.

"What's the use?"

Chen Heng smiled.

At this moment, the one who rushed to the water's edge and waved was a tall man of about fifteen or sixteen years old.

He was dressed in a blue cloth shirt and trousers, with a straight nose, square mouth, and large ears. He wore a straw hat to shield his eyes from the sun and held a bowl of rice porridge in his hand, which was still steaming hot.

He had clearly only eaten half of the meal when he rushed out of the house.

"Uncle Chen!"

He Ji put down the wooden bowl, greeted Chen Heng, and then began to roll up his trouser legs:

"Are you going to the river alone today? Wait for me a while. Let me put the bowls back home and get all my things. Then I'll go with you."

"No need," Chen Heng shook his head.

"Uncle Chen is just being polite to me. Uncle Chen and Father have been old buddies for many years. Now that Father has gone out to visit relatives, it is only right that I, your nephew, lend a hand on the work on the boat!"

Hearing this, He Ji did not stop what he was doing. Instead, he rolled up his trouser legs even higher, as if he wanted to jump up and try.

"I've practically watched you grow up, how could I not know what you're thinking?"

Chen Heng washed his hands in the river water below and smiled faintly:

"Tell me, whose favors did you receive this time to act as a matchmaker for me? The Wang family's daughter, or that third young lady from the Qian family?"

He Ji was He Chang's eldest son. Not long after Chen Heng joined the Zhuxi Gang, He Chang also married a woman from a neighboring village. The couple got along very well and had three sons and two daughters, making their family quite prosperous.

As more than a decade has passed, He Ji has grown from a helpless infant into a handsome young man.

He was not only an expert in fishing, but also learned all of He Chang's skills, surpassing his teacher in ability.

Even their personalities are exactly the same, as if they were made from the same mold.

Back then, He Chang was enthusiastic about acting as a matchmaker for Chen Heng, but he was repeatedly rejected. However, he never gave up and seemed to enjoy it. Now, He Ji is taking over the task.

This man was more cunning than his father, and he would even accept some benefits from the woman beforehand.

He Ji didn't actually ask for much; perhaps a fresh fish, or some chestnuts and lotus roots. Although they weren't anything valuable, he couldn't be asked to do the work for free.

However, when this matter reached He Chang's ears, He Chang was furious. He grabbed He Ji by the neck and personally led him to return the money to each household, which caused quite a stir in Zhuxi Village at the time.

Hearing Chen Heng's words that revealed his thoughts, He Ji's hand, which was rolling up his trousers, stiffened slightly.

He chuckled awkwardly and looked up, a hint of embarrassment on his face.

"Uncle Chen, what you said is true. Since that day, I have known my mistake and corrected it. I dare not do it again. We are all from a water town. Who would lack fish, shrimp, or lotus roots?"
I only intended to use this method to test the woman's sincerity. If they truly wanted to marry Uncle Chen, what did a few fish and shrimp matter? Besides, I returned the fish and shrimp to Uncle Chen. But if—"

Seeing that He Ji was getting more and more excited as he talked, his rambling skills were even better than He Chang's.

Chen Heng waved his hand slightly, indicating:

"You can finish the porridge in your bowl before you talk about it."

"How can that be? I swear I didn't take any bribes this time. I haven't dared to do it again since I was beaten up. I found this woman with great difficulty. I think you, Uncle Chen, should be a good match for her."

He Ji was furious:

"Before he left, my father repeatedly told me that I must find you a satisfactory marriage while he was away. If I can't do it, I'll get a beating when he comes back!"

"You're confident you can accomplish in just ten days or half a month what your father couldn't achieve in over a decade?"

Chen Heng made a joke, then changed the subject:
"Your father went to Qucheng, and he shouldn't be back for another month or so, right?"

He Ji nodded repeatedly.

“I left him a box and buried it under the osmanthus tree in the courtyard. Remember to tell him to dig it up. Also, do you still wear the little jade pendant I gave you?” Chen Heng asked.

Although He Ji was somewhat puzzled by these words, he still pulled a small fish-shaped jade carving from his collar and hurriedly replied:
"Uncle Chen is right here."

"You are born with insufficient qi and blood, and all six meridians are weak. This item was made by my own hands. Although it is my first time making an item and it is not a very good treasure, it can still be used to nourish qi and calm the mind. It is best not to take it off."

Chen Heng's gaze lingered on the fish-shaped jade carving for a moment before he spoke.

"Am I deficient in qi and blood?"

He Ji was taken aback upon hearing this.

Ever since he could remember, he felt that he was as strong as a bear, even stronger than the water buffalo in the village, and could even pull a sled to plow the fields with one hand.

If one's qi and blood are insufficient, how could it be a problem within oneself?

Before He Ji could understand, the small fishing boat had already started to move leisurely, ripples spreading across the water, propelling the boat away into the distance.

"Even if we don't get married, Uncle Chen, there's no need for you to be in such a hurry!"

Realizing that he had only been distracted for a moment and had already lost the chance to catch up, He Ji was startled and quickly shouted at the top of his lungs:
"Which section of the Feiyun River is Uncle Chen going to this time? I'll follow him later!"

"The Yuefu River flows into the You River, and then directly into the West Crossing Sea."

Chen Heng's voice came from afar.

"Uncle Chen, are you joking?"

He Ji grinned, amused.

Let's not even mention that my uncle is an eccentric fisherman who never goes boating on the big river.

In his seventeen years of fishing, he had never ventured into any of the five major rivers: the You River, the Li River, the Zhang River, the Ruan River, and the Fu River.

Besides, how could such a small fishing boat withstand real river waves?

It would likely be swept away and sink to the bottom of the river with a mere touch, let alone cross mountains and rivers to reach the western sea.

But He Ji was laughing for a while when he realized something was wrong, and his voice gradually lowered.

He craned his neck and looked up, only to see that Chen Heng's figure was slowly disappearing from sight.

A river breeze blew by, and the reeds behind me rustled again. When the wind stopped, there was an unusual silence.

It was as if only the sound of flowing water remained in the world, never ceasing...

And another place.

Half a day later, after arriving at Feiyun River, they finally sailed into a stretch of water that they had rarely ventured into before. Chen Heng saw a sudden gust of wind rise in front of him, followed by thick fog that filled the sky and dark clouds that covered the ground, as if the entire river surface had been suddenly shrouded, isolating it from the outside world.

A few breaths later, a red light gradually emerged from the bottom of the river, radiating a strange brilliance. At the same time, a rumbling sound came from underwater, as if something was rapidly approaching.

"Lord Xun, why be so polite?"

Chen Heng stopped rowing and said.

"I am fortunate to have received your guidance over the years, and I have truly benefited greatly. It is only right that I come to see you off!"

Just then, a buzzing sound came from the bottom of the river, and then the water surface suddenly parted, and Xun Jian, who had rushed over in his true form as a dragon, rushed out.

Seemingly worried about being impolite, he quickly revealed himself in human form, stood on the river, and bowed very respectfully.

Chen Heng was not surprised to see this. Chilong was a member of the dragon race and had the great ability to summon clouds and rain. It was naturally compatible with water, and Xun Jian was a great demon at the primordial spirit realm.

Since this person is located in the Liang Kingdom, it is only natural that he would be able to sense the water veins of the Liang Kingdom.

"May I ask if the True One is truly leaving this wondrous land?"

Xun Jian's words just now were also based on suspicion, but Chen Heng only smiled slightly and did not deny it, as if he really intended to leave.

Xun Jian was indeed somewhat puzzled and couldn't help but feel curious.

"I have just received the talisman from the sect. The date for the Dan Yuan Conference has been set for two and a half years from now."

It's alright to tell you this; I imagine it won't be long before this news spreads throughout the heavens, so that all cultivators in the universe will hear of it.

Chen Heng spoke calmly:
"My progress has reached a critical point, and I only need to take the final step. Since that's the case, it's time to prepare to set off."

Dan Yuan Conference —

Upon hearing the name, Xun Jian felt his breath catch in his throat, his scalp tingle, and he even momentarily lost his senses.

The powerful patriarchs of the eight sects and six schools, who held the reins of the world, would take charge and preside over the event. With a wave of their hands, they would offer up the entire prosperous fortune of the mortal world as a reward, ordering the noble sons of each sect to personally take to the battlefield and use all their supernatural powers and wonderful methods until the final winner was determined!
The contemporary leader of Dan Yuan will be chosen, whose name will be known throughout the land and among all cultivators!
Such a magnificent scene was enough to make Xun Jian's heart flutter and his mind wander just by hearing about it.

He truly could not imagine what a fierce scene it would be when such outstanding talents from great schools like Chen Heng were vying for supremacy.
In what way can the prosperous destiny of a great heaven be seized? And what mysterious changes will occur after that destiny is seized?
Miaobaodi is considered a pretty good land.

Compared to Xu Du Da Tian Yi, he became nothing more than roadside weeds, not worth mentioning at all!
"This is the path to immortality, this is true cultivation..."

Xun Jian muttered to himself.

"In addition to informing me of the date of the Dan Yuan Conference, the talisman book within the sect also confirmed one thing."

At this moment, Chen Heng's voice suddenly rang out.

"The Imperial Court of the Grand Master of Ceremonies, the Golden Edict of the Yuanzu Emperor."

He looked at Xun Jian and said:
"This name shouldn't be unfamiliar to you, Master Xun, right?"

Upon hearing this, Xun Jian felt as if his mind had been struck by lightning, all his reverie vanished in an instant, and he felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave.

……

……

The wind subsided and the sun shone brightly, the river surface was as calm as the ground.

At this moment, Xun Jian looked slightly embarrassed. He seemed about to say something, but Chen Heng waved his hand and said:

"The Yuanzu Golden Edict is a divine object specially crafted by the Taichang Dragon Court during the rebellion against Heaven to connect with the dragons in the universe. As long as the Yuanzu Golden Edict is offered up, the dragons will naturally respond."

The plan by Taichang Longting to use this item to summon all dragons from across the land to Taichang has been exposed.

I had some doubts before, why you, Lord Xun, would rather damage your own foundation in order to improve your cultivation as soon as possible.

So it seems you also intend to make a trip to Taichangtian?

Xun Jian remained silent for a moment, then sighed deeply and said sincerely:
"Taichang is, after all, the ancestral home of us dragons. Although I am weak and powerless, I still wish to contribute my share to the cause of our ancestral home."

He then immediately pointed to the heavens and swore:

"However, I would never dare to offend the True Man, and I ask Heaven to bear witness to this!"

Chen Heng shook his head:

"The affairs of the Imperial Academy are far more complex than you think. There's the Dragon Court, the Yiluo Palace, the Fawang Temple, and even..."

Chen Heng stopped speaking and took something out of his sleeve and threw it.

Xun Jian subconsciously took it, only to find that what he held in his hand was a bottle of pills.

The fragrance of the elixir was strong, and when it was smelled, there was even a slight stinging and itchy sensation. I didn't know what kind of elixir it was.

"This pill can slightly alleviate the poison of the Dragon Essence in your body. I will use this as a reward and ask you to take care of the He family in Zhuxi Village. Xun Gong, please take good care of yourself."

Chen Heng's voice drifted back from afar, as he continued downstream along the river.

Xun Jian grasped the elixir bottle in his hand in a daze, wanting to chase after it, but then stopped in his tracks.

Finally, he simply stood on the river, bowed deeply to the small fishing boat, and did not raise his head for a long time...

It flows directly from Feiyun River into Fushui River, then meanders and flows into Youshui River, drifting along Youshui River until it finally arrives at Xiduhai Sea.

At this moment, Chen Heng stood up from the fishing boat, looked at the vast sky, and his eyes flickered slightly.

After more than a month, he finally arrived at this sea.

Looking out, the sun shines brightly in the sky, illuminating the heavens and the earth. There are no sails or ships for thousands of miles, only the clear blue sea stretching to the horizon. Occasionally, white birds fly past among the high clouds, their movements as swift as lightning.

The vastness of the landscape instantly lifts one's spirits and fills one with a sense of pride.

Chen Heng had been sailing for seventeen years and had only seen the scenery on the river. But when he was in Xudu, he had personally witnessed the vastness of the East China Sea and the grandeur of the North China Sea!

But at this moment, no scene could compare to what was before them.

Having traveled by boat from the river to this point, he seemed to have become a part of the stream, plunging into the surging waves, flowing ceaselessly, traversing mountains and rivers, until he merged into this vast ocean.

He stood silently, completely opening his mind, simply experiencing this wondrous change.

In a daze, he seemed to have forgotten where he was.

He simply let the waves gently toss him and the small boat below him to and fro, going wherever they pleased.

After an unknown amount of time, a flock of seabirds came to rest at the awning.

Chen Heng's clothes suddenly moved without any wind, swaying gently.

A few breaths later, the wind grew stronger and stronger, not only startling the seabirds on the awning away, but also stirring up raging waves, carrying layers of huge waves as big as mountains, crashing in all directions!

In an instant, spray shot into the sky, reaching straight into the clouds, and the surging tides roared like ten thousand drums, causing the world to lose its color!
Amidst the turbulent waves, Chen Heng calmly opened his eyes and recited:

"The vast ocean is the source of all waters; all rivers flow in different directions but converge into the great sea."

"But heaven and earth are infinite; what is called life must die, what is called beginning must end; all things are different and cannot be judged by a single standard."

He smiled broadly:
"I will return to the primordial chaos and merge heaven and earth into one great mass; this is my way!"

After uttering these words, Chen Heng felt a flash of inspiration in his mind, and an overwhelming sense of joy welled up within him.

His fontanelle trembled, and a wisp of light rose into the clouds, instantly illuminating the sea and sky in the dim world, shining brightly!

The interior is complete; the skill is fully developed.

This is precisely the third realm of the Golden Elixir, where the spirit contains form!

(End of this chapter)